“But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.”

It was not just the cycles, they were spiralling downwards spiritually with each cycle. But despite this, God still respond to their cries for help.

GOD ALWAYS RESPONDS

God responds because He is gracious. God responds by grace, not by merit.

• Twelve times it happened in Judges, twelve times God showed up. Which means, every time. Every time Israel cries out, God responds.

• Jud 2:18b “…for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them.”

• David writes in the psalms (couple of times): “the LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” (cf. Ps 103:8)

God never fails to respond. Jesus wasn’t joking when He says:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt 7:7-8)

If we FEEL that God is NOT responding, it helps to understand this: (1) it is a feeling, and (2) we are probably reading Him wrongly.

• God answers our prayers. The classic line we know is that God answers with YES, NO, or WAIT. And because NO and WAIT usually comes with silence, we misinterpret that as a non-response.

• Trust me. When God is not doing anything, that itself is a decision. He has chosen NOT to do anything, and that’s His response. If He needs to do something, He would have done it.